Lightning-rod anchor



A. G. HOOVENS LIGHTNING ROD ANC'HOR Dec. 1, 1925.

Filed April 1922 v i n.

Patented Dec. l, 1925.

Unirse sraras AMASA G. HOOVENS, 0F GOSHEN, INDIANA.

LIGHTNING-ROD ANCHOR.

Application filed April 10, 1922. Serial No. 551,170.

T 0 all whom, t may concern.:

Be it known that I, AMASA G. IrIooviiNs, a citizen of the United States, resident of Goshen, in the county of Elkhart and State of Indiana, have made a certain new and useful Invention in Lightning-Rod Anchors; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, Suchas will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specilication.

Figure l is a perspective viewiof the invention as applied.

Figure 2 is a side view of the invention, showing the lowering rod and the hole in the ground engaged by the anchor.

Figure 3 is a similar view with said rod removed and the anchor tilted.

Figure 4 is a detail end view of the anchor.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken through the cable and the metal tie or wrapping.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure l and showing the hook device in substitution for said tie or wrapping.

The invention has relation to improvements in anchors for lightning rod and other cables, the object being to provide .an improved practical and eiiicient device for the purpose.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combinations of parts, as hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanyingl drawings illustrating the invention, the numerall designates the lightning rod cable, and 2 is the anchor of brass or other suitable material, and the body of which is straight and laterally eX- tended by means of lateral flanges 4, 4, and having reduced twin straight rod-form end portions in line with said body and having oppositely beveled ends 3, 3., each beveled upon one side only. The said body of the anchor is provided with a central eye eXtension 5, and with end shoulders 6, 6.

The copper` cable l has its ground end engaged with the eye 5, and the free end of the cable may be secured to the cable body by a metal tie or wrapping 7, as in Figure 5 of the drawings; or the ground end of the cable may have a suitable hook device 8 secured thereon as at 9, said hook device being of suitable metal of some iiexi- In the use of the invention, a hole is made Y in the ground by a pointed iron bar or other means to a depth of from eight to ten feet to permanent moisture, the hole being suiiiciently large to permit the passage of the anchor with the cable attached thereto, and this bar being withdrawn, the lightning rod cable and anchor in parallel relation are lowered down the hole, a .rod l1 having a longitudinal recess l2 at its lower end engaging the uppermost end portion of the anchor down to the shoulders 6, 6, of the uppermost portions of the lateral fianges, said rod serving to hold the anchor and cable parallel while being lowered down into the hole, the lower pointed portion of the anchor aiding in the engagement of the anchor with said hole so that the anchor may be readily pushed down the hole.

The rod 1l is then withdrawn, leaving the anchor at the bottom of the hole and the cable thereto attached.

Either of the straight end portions of the device and either end shoulder thereof is adapted for engagement with the ground iinbedding tool and is also adapted to penetrate the ground straight downwardly when pressure is exerted thereon by said tool, the anchor being reversible when attached to the cable to present either end thereof uppermost.

The device being imbedded in the ground, upward strain upon the cable causes the uppermost end of the anchor which is beveled oppositely to that of the lowermost end to engage the side of the aforesaid hole fulcruinwise to tend to turn the anchor to a position at right angles to the cable.

Both end portions of the anchor being alike, either end may be uppermost when lowered down into the ground, and the anchoring action will be precisely similar in either case. The anchor assumes a position at yright angles to the cable under strain for full resistance, as shown in Figure 1. The cylindrical rod like end portions of the anchor having plane beveled ends provide for very strong points, which owing to their location upon the opposite side of the anchor from the eye 5 facilitate their engagement with the ground. The eye extension 5 is in the plane of the rod form'body of the extension in a manner to admit of the reversal of the anchor endior end, and in a manner to admit of the anchor being moved pivotally upon said biOht to a position parallel with the cable as in Figure 2.

I claim tc 1. An anchor for lightning rod and other cables, consisting of an elongated laterally extended straight body having a central lateral eye extension for cable attachment and twin straight end portions in line with said body and having oppositely beveled ends each beveled upon one side only and either of which acts as a fulcrum engaging the ground wherein the anchor is imbedded to turn the anchor to right angular position relative to the cable,V either of said straight end portions being adapted :tor engagement with a ground imbedding tool and beingfalso adapted to penetrate the ground straight downwardly when pressure is exerted there- Melrose on by said tool, the anchor being reversible when attached to the cable to present either end thereof uppermost.

2. Avn anchor for lightning rod and other cables, consist-ing oi" an elongated laterally extended-straight body having end shoulders and a central lateral eye extension for cable attachmentand twin straight rod-form end portions in line with said body and having oppositely beveled ends each beveled upon one side only, and either of which-acts asia ulcrum engaging the ground wherein-.the anchor is imbedded to turn the anchor, to right angular position relative to the cable, either of said straight end portions and either of saidI end shoulders being, adapted for engagement with aground. imbedding tool and also adapted to penetrate the ground straight downwardly when pressure is exerted thereon by saidtool, the anchor being reversible whenattached tothe cable to present either, end thereofruppermost.

In testimony whereof Iaixmysignature.

l AMASA G. HOOVENS. 

